I have been scratching my head on this one...Here we go:
I believe that I am familiar with every type of wrench used. I have never seen an automatic open end wrench in my life and I am having a hard time imagining one.
Am I missing something here? The torque controller is trivial because you can measure the amperage consumed vs. the movement f the wrench to determine instantaneous torque.
How is the machine going to know what the torque requirement is unless someone tells it?
Modularity can be accomplished by using sockets.
Operator fatigue can be essentially eliminated by counter-balancing the tool by hanging it on a wire. A good example of this is the Peterbilt factory near Denton. All of the wheel lugs are tightened to specification by an air powered driver. This same type of device is used by engine manufacturers for connecting rod bolts, head bolts, and main bearing bolts.
Accessibility is more of a design issue than a tool problem.
I still want to see the automatic open end wrench thing. With very few exceptions, open end wrenches are not used in manufacturing.
This whole problem is being way over-thought. From what was described, someone has done a lot of thought about a problem that probably does not exist or is an extremely small part of the manufacturing process?
Here are some companies I know of that offer torque tools that actually work well...
CDI Torque Products
Open End Heads for MOUNTZ TBIH Break Over Torque Wrenches - Automation Aides
http://www.armstrongtools.com/clientextensions/danaher/pages/default.aspx